#Vegan Amino Acids

[ms-demeanor]

wait, are the health claims from bone broth bogus? (genuine/good faith question). i’ve always heard that it’s high in collagen, which supposedly is good for you and better if you get it ‘naturally’ like from bone broth. is that another thing that’s not actually true, or wildly exaggerated?

Bone broth has been eaten for centuries in various cultures because it is easy to digest and believed to have healing properties. Chicken broth is highly valued by some as a remedy for the flu. In more recent years it has been promoted to help symptoms from psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity. [7] Claims that it detoxifies the liver, improves digestion, reverses wrinkles, builds bones, and relieves join pain have led some marketing analysts to predict that the bone broth market will approach $3 billion by 2024. [8] In reality, bone broth contains only small amounts of minerals naturally found in bone including calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, and copper. The amount of protein, obtained from the gelatin, varies from 5-10 grams per cup. There is some concern that bone broth contains toxic metals like lead. One small study found that bone broth made from chicken bones contained three times the lead as chicken broth made with the meat only. [7] However the amount of lead in the bone broth per serving was still less than half the amount permitted by the Environmental Protection Agency in drinking water. A different study found that bone broth, both homemade and commercially produced, contained low levels (<5% RDA) of calcium and magnesium as well as heavy metals like lead and cadmium. [9] The study noted that various factors can affect the amount of protein and minerals extracted in bone broth: the amount of acidity, cooking time, cooking temperature, and type of animal bone used. Therefore it is likely that the nutritional value of bone broths will vary widely.

(Source: https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/collagen/)

Your body makes collagen; eating collagen will put the things that make collagen into your body to make collagen with, but so will eating things that go into making collagen (amino acids, basically).

There's not good evidence that eating a ton of collagen or supplementing collagen improves your body's collagen production, and studies on collagen supplementation tend to be done by companies that make collagen supplements or produce expensive bone broth.

Basically if you're eating the 9 essential amino acids by consuming complete proteins (which can be done on any kind of diet, vegan or vegetarian or including meat - this is NOT one of those things your body relies on animal products to produce) your body is going to make collagen and it's going to have the amino acids handy to make collagen; consuming more collagen may mean that your body has more of those collagen-forming amino acids on hand, but it doesn't mean that your body is going to be any more efficient at producing collagen (and your body is going to become less efficient at producing collagen as you age).

But yeah bone broth health claims are primarily bogus. If you want more collagen in your diet for whatever reason, it's probably about as effective to eat jello as it is to eat bone broth but also more collagen in your diet likely isn't doing anything special.

[plethodontidae]

if you are vegan and force your dog or cat to be vegan also i’m going to beat you upside the head

[xclowniex]

https://www.tumblr.com/xclowniex/766162075699576832/i-saw-a-tik-tok-of-a-news-piece-of-a-woman-who-was

I feel like these kinds of online types who love talking about the evils of the bourgeois would love to be a new elite class in their hypothetical utopia.

They don't hate the whipcracking taskmasters because whipcracking taskmasters are bad, but rather that THEY aren't the ones who get to do it to those they see as lesser and undeserving.

No cause literally this.

We see this so much with jews. Everyone advocates for progressive policies and ideologies, ☝️except they don't apply to jews.

And it's not a Jewish specific affecting thing.

We see it with so many other things. Like with voting. "I don't like either candidates policies 100% so I'm not going to vote and you shouldn't either if you really care about insert issue" like one candidate is obviously worse, and the less worse candidate is going to lose if you don't vote for her, which means less rights for every body.

"Fast fashion is bad and anyone who supports it is also bad. Just thrift or but from sustainable branss" however they fail to understand that being poor is expensive. If you can't afford something expensive which is higher quality, you buy low quality fast fashion which because it's low quality, falls apart before you can save up for something higher quality. Not to mention thrifting isn't always size inclusive, as it's literally donated clothes and people buying things which are too big to thrift flip into something more stylish and their size also makes the problem worse.

"Buying leather is bad, it was once a cow" however vegan leather is literally just plastic and breaks easier and quicker than actual leather. If we are going to eat meat, which ignoring the fact that diet should be a choice, some people need to eat meat to get enough iron or amino acids and everyone being meat free isn't realistic from a health perspective. And therefore we should be using the whole cow instead of wasting parts of it.

And lastly, plastic straws are one of the prime examples. Yes they are bad for the environment but there are disabled folk where they are the best straw for them.

[theambitiouswoman]

How to make gelatin gummies ✨

Don’t read if you’re a vegan 💞

Gelatin is a protein made from collagen, which comes from animal parts like skin, bones, and cartilage. It’s made by boiling these parts to break down collagen, then drying it into a powder. When mixed with water and cooled, it turns into a jelly like substance.

Benefits of Gelatin Gummies

• Gelatin is rich in collagen, which can improve skin elasticity, hydration, and reduce signs of aging like wrinkles.

• Collagen in gelatin helps promote stronger, healthier hair & nails.

• Gelatin contains amino acids like glycine and proline, which support joint cartilage, reduce stiffness and enhance mobility.

• The amino acids in gelatin can soothe and strengthen the gut lining, supporting digestion and reducing inflammation.

• Glycine, found in gelatin, improves sleep quality.

• Gelatin provides a source of collagen and protein, which are key for bone strength and repair.

• A great low calorie way to increase your protein intake.

Tips for Making Gelatin Gummies

Add extra benefits by including ingredients like:

• Vitamin C for immunity and better collagen absorption.

• Fruit juices for flavor and antioxidants.

• Honey or maple syrup for natural sweetness.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups milk, coconut water or juice of your choice

• 4 Tbsp grass-fed gelatin

• Honey or maple syrup (to taste)

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over your preferred liquid and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. This helps the gelatin absorb the liquid and dissolve better.

2. Pour the bloomed gelatin and liquid into a saucepan. Heat gently on low, stirring constantly until the gelatin fully dissolves (don’t let it boil).

3. Stir in honey or maple syrup to sweeten. Mix until everything is smooth and lump free.

4. Pour the mixture into silicone molds or a dish. Place in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours or until fully set.

5. Pop the gummies out of the molds or cut into squares if set in a dish. Store in the fridge for up to a week!

[ahhvernin]

I'm watching the new season of Beastars. This season the school is undergoing segregation and society is more divided. As someone who studied ecology and loves reading up the natural history of animals. And likes to dabble here and there among the nutritional science of things. I have a major thorn about the series I have to address. Even if its a work of fiction, the knowledge I have is making me pause episodes far too many times.

And the issue is....the separation of Herbivores and Carnivores, the drug KINES and their reaction to it.

Most animals, even if classified as Herbivores can become omnivorous if conditions and situations arise. I've seen squirrels eat birds. I've seen deer on a nice warm spring day snatch up a goslings without hesitation, I've seen rabbits nibbling on deer antlers.

Many Herbivores especially during the winter and early spring will eat what is available, that includes bones, antler sheds, and sometimes even carrion, if there's nothing else. So how can you have a dedicated herbivore and carnivore? Why are cranes, chickens and peacocks among the herbivore group? HAVE YOU SEEN A CHICKEN HUNT AND SWALLOW A MOUSE??? Cranes and herons eat other aquatic animals.

The series integrates insects, milk and eggs as part of the diet. The majority of carnivores, Omnivores, Insectivores and Herbivores partake in these things.

Insects, milk, eggs, all come from a living being, and are animal products, or in the case of insects, are still considered animal protein. Sharing similar nutrients, minerals, proteins, fats and amino acids.

Therefore...The portrayal of the drug KINES is a bit flawed as that most of the inhabitants of the series have consumed animal products or animal proteins. Louis brings a chemical analysis and points out actin and myosin, both proteins present in muscle and cell movement, this includes insects. Louis says the report comes in as "trace" amounts, which means not alot. But remember...society regularly consumes dairy, eggs and insects.

Deshico makes a mention about there are GST's, during his demonstration of KINES between a carnivores who does not eat fresh meat regularly vs a carnivore who does. GST's is whole family of enzymes with a multitude of functions, some involved in digestion and detoxification in the liver. They are present in all tissues and organs, this includes insects. And if we use humans as an example....even life time vegetarians and vegans still retain the ability to digest meat, because some of the protease enzymes that are present during digestion are generalists, like pepsin, meaning they could break down the kale you ate AND the chicken you ate. Even wilder....there are some plants that can digest meats. Ever wonder why fresh pineapple makes your mouth tingle? That's bromelain in the juice, it breaks down protein, its digesting your tongue! So that's that's it. I don't have enough biochemical knowledge to tell you what would make KINES more believable for me. But as it stands, I would expect more species becoming MORE feral/addicted to this drink if regular consumption of animal proteins is all it takes and this is more or less addressing a nutritional deficiency of some kind. And if so, the society in this show is just okay with having the land carnivores and omnivores to be in a perpetual state of mal-nutrition and deficiencies..

[roseamoungstthethorns]

A take on veganism

While veganism can do good on the world, It's current climate is toxic and unhealthy.

There is no act an individual can to that will effect the level of harm that corporations cause

The especially white vegan view of you have to be fully vegan in everything you consume is toxic, unethical, and often in achievable.

Plastic leather (pleather or vegan leather) is horrible for the environment and your wallet. It sheds a ridiculous amount of plastic products into the environment and does not hold up with time causing you to have to buy more and more. This of course causes more plastic in the environment and more expenses to you.

Most leather is used as a byproduct from cows killed for the meat industry meaning these cows would still be killed if you did not consume leather as they are skilled for hamburger etc. and then instead of discarding their skin it is used for a durable environmentally friendly product.

In again, especially white vegans, the bid to not consume any animal products leads to more harm than good in cases.

Foods like quinoa (grain that has amino acids and protein) and agave (common substitute for honey) harm farmers and the countries who rely on them due to vegans driving up global demand.

Many vegans will boycott honey as it is derived from bees, but will still consume almond milk. This is hypocritical as bees are not harmed in the production of honey, buy are harmed in the transportation to and pollinating of almond groves.

The crazy vegan stereotype turns people away from veganism and decreased animal consumption. The over the top, angry, all or nothing type creates hatred towards the vegan community steating people away from it which creates the opposite effect that it is trying to.

Critic of concepts such as meatless Monday hurts everyone. Most people can't or aren't willing to be vegan or vegetarian but concepts such as meatless Mondays allows for less meat to be cooked when it otherwise would be.

The idea that vegan or vegetarian diets are cheaper is false. This is only true if your diet is mainly beans and rice, but that is not how almost everyone eats. Produce, and dairy and meat substitutes are more expensive than animal products. Furthermore in food deserts or countries/areas where vegan/vegetarian lifestyles aren't common it may be next to impossible to not consume animal products due to low availability and high price.

Most vegans and vegetarians will allow for medications that include animal products, but those who don't create an unsafe space for people who rely on them.

Medications is not the only reason to need to consume animal products and this is where the real danger lies. Any condition that causes a restrictive diet poses a risk in restricting more. Yes, veganism and vegetarism are restrictive diets. Some, but definitely not all, are chron's, gerd, ANY ED, needing to tube feed, IBS, colonoscopy bag users, people on a liquid diet, and much more. Talk to your healthcare provider please before attempting vegan or vegetarian lifestyles if you have any of these types of issues. The vegan movement shames people who rely on animal products to stay healthy and that is dangerous.

Racism plays into the vegan movement as well. Many, again, especially white, vegans shame cultures who use animals. Cultures and traditions who care for animals, use all their parts, farm, and take care of their land and animals are much better than traditionally western practices and the need for veganism is no longer needed. The animals and land are cared for and treated respectfully. Veganism would do more harm than good here.

There us a line between ethical and unethical veganism, however the line is blurred. Knowing when it does more harm than good is not often enough talked about and I believe it's important that unethical veganism is talked about more.

Some ways to help promote ethical living besides veganism

Freegan. A freegan is vegan with the exception to animal products that would otherwise be discarded.

Ethical consumption. Buy from local farmers. Start a community garden. Have your own chickens for eggs. Etc.

Trade and barter. This works around capitalism which is a driving factor towards unethical animal practices.

Support indigenous people. They know how to care for the land and the animals. Importantly their rights have been abused and violated and we need to support them as well.

Shop local. This keeps money out of the hands of big corporations. As well as being environmentally friendly due to less co2 emissions.

Reduce reuse recycle. Start by reducing the products use consume. Then reuse what you can as much as you can. Finally recycle everything you can. This is the order that makes the smallest imprint.

Pescitarian. The only meat pescitarians consume is fish.

Vegetarian. Vegetarians consume animal products but not animals. This can include eggs, but not chickens, milk, but not cow, honey, silk etc. Lakto-vegitarians consume dairy but not eggs and ovo-vegitarians consume eggs but not dairy.

Cutting out any type of meat or animal products.

Only consuming foods that are ethically produced in regards to the environment, animals, and/or humans

Feel free to add more

Remember your health comes first, there is no ethical consumption under capitalism, any change is better than no change.

TL;DR Veganism has problems and isn't the end all be all of ethicality. Reduce consumption in general in the ways you can. Remember your health comes first.

[rachellaurengray]

Top Plant-Based Protein Powders for Every Taste and Goal

Finding the right plant-based protein powder can elevate your fitness routine and support your health goals. Whether you're an athlete, fitness enthusiast, or simply looking for a plant-powered boost, choosing a high-quality protein is key. In this guide, we will look at the best plant-based protein powders, including popular brands like Vega, BioSteel, and Sunwarrior. With a variety of taste profiles—from rich chocolate to smooth vanilla—there’s an option to suit every preference and help fuel your day.

1. Vega Sport Premium Protein

Type: Plant-based, Vegan

Protein Source: Pea protein, pumpkin seed protein, sunflower seed protein, alfalfa protein

Taste: Chocolate, Vanilla, Mocha, Peanut Butter

Key Features: 30g of protein per serving, 6g BCAAs, 5g glutamine, and no artificial flavors or sweeteners.

Ideal For: Athletes, those seeking post-workout recovery.

2. BioSteel Plant-Based Protein

Type: Plant-based, Vegan

Protein Source: Pea protein, brown rice protein

Taste: Chocolate, Vanilla, Ice Cream sandwich, Maple Pancake, Cinnamon Bun

Key Features: 20g of protein per serving, no sugar, and made with non-GMO ingredients. Includes added electrolytes and amino acids.

Ideal For: Hydration, muscle recovery, clean energy.

3. Sunwarrior Warrior Blend

Type: Plant-based, Vegan

Protein Source: Pea protein, hemp protein, goji berries, coconut

Taste: Chocolate, Vanilla, Natural, Berry

Key Features: 27g of protein per serving, high in BCAAs, MCTs, and antioxidants.

Ideal For: Vegan athletes, those looking for a clean, all-in-one blend.

4. Orgain Organic Protein

Type: Plant-based, Vegan

Protein Source: Pea protein, brown rice protein, chia seeds

Taste: Chocolate, Vanilla, Peanut Butter, Cookies & Cream

Key Features: 21g of protein per serving, certified organic, no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives.

Ideal For: Those seeking a balanced, everyday plant protein powder.

5. KOS Organic Plant Protein

Type: Plant-based, Vegan

Protein Source: Pea protein, organic pumpkin seed protein, organic flaxseed, quinoa

Taste: Chocolate, Vanilla, Chocolate Mint

Key Features: 20g of protein per serving, organic, 9 essential amino acids, digestive enzymes.

Ideal For: People looking for a nutrient-dense, organic option with digestive support.

6. Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein

Type: Plant-based, Vegan

Protein Source: Pea protein, brown rice protein, chia seeds, and sprouted grains

Taste: Vanilla, Chocolate, Unflavored

Key Features: 22g of protein per serving, 44 superfoods, probiotics, and digestive enzymes.

Ideal For: Those who want a clean, whole-food-based protein with added digestive benefits.

7. Nuzest Clean Lean Protein

Type: Plant-based, Vegan

Protein Source: Pea protein isolate

Taste: Chocolate, Vanilla, Coffee, Strawberry

Key Features: 20g of protein per serving, 100% pea protein isolate, no artificial ingredients.

Ideal For: Those who prefer a pure, minimalistic protein source with low carbs.

8. Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides (Plant-based alternative)

Type: Plant-based, Vegan alternative to collagen

Protein Source: Pea protein, rice protein

Taste: Unflavored

Key Features: Focuses on joint and skin health, while providing protein for muscle recovery.

Ideal For: Vegan consumers looking for a collagen-boosting alternative.

[beautyandlifestyleblog86]

Healthy protein sources are essential for building and repairing tissues, supporting muscle growth, and maintaining overall health. Some examples of healthy protein sources include:

1. Lean Poultry: Skinless chicken breast and turkey breast are lean sources of protein that are low in saturated fat and high in essential nutrients like niacin and vitamin B6.

2. Fish: Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines, and trout are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for heart health and brain function. They are also excellent sources of high-quality protein.

3. Eggs: Eggs are a complete protein source, meaning they contain all nine essential amino acids that the body cannot produce on its own. They are also rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

4. Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt is higher in protein compared to regular yogurt and is a good source of probiotics, which support gut health. Choose plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt to avoid added sugars.

5. Legumes: Beans, lentils, chickpeas, and peas are plant-based sources of protein that are also rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are a great option for vegetarians and vegans.

6. Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, and hemp seeds are good sources of plant-based protein, healthy fats, and essential nutrients.

7. Tofu and Tempeh: Tofu and tempeh are soy-based protein sources that are popular among vegetarians and vegans. They are versatile ingredients that can be used in a variety of dishes.

8. Lean Beef and Pork: Lean cuts of beef and pork, such as sirloin, tenderloin, and loin chops, are good sources of protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins. Opt for lean cuts and trim excess fat.

Including a variety of these healthy protein sources in your diet can help you meet your daily protein needs and support overall health and well-being. Aim to incorporate a mix of animal and plant-based proteins to ensure you are getting a diverse range of nutrients.

[devoted1989]

Vegan protein sources

Proteins are made up of 20 amino acid building blocks. Eleven of these are called nonessential, meaning they can be made in your body.

The other nine are called essential, meaning they need to be obtained through the diet. Foods that contain all nine essential amino acids are called “complete proteins”, while foods that are lacking in one or more essential amino acids are “incomplete proteins”.

Some plant-based proteins are incomplete, but eating a variety of plant-based protein sources throughout the day will ensure that your body’s needs are met.

(Source - Colorado State University)

Complete vegan protein combinations:

[eeerilyrealistic]

a reckoning with one’s own personal taste dictated by a series of events that are out of one’s control

d***** asked me why i bought the pink oyster mushrooms if i didnt like mushrooms. he said he finds that odd. i said they looked so luscious and beautiful and that maybe i would like this strain of mushroom. i told him i force myself to eat mushrooms even though i have never liked them and that i am actually viscerally repulsed by them. i hate the smell taste texture and i even hate to touch them. cooking the pink oyster mushrooms yesterday made me think i was going to vomit from the scent. they even hurt my stomach upon forcing myself to consume them. i don’t mind looking at them nevertheless.

you know some people just don’t like things and thats okay? he says. why do you do that? 

well i had to do it to find out. he laughs. true. (but i didnt tell him i have done it a million different times and i still have the same reaction. maybe this time it will be different? with mushrooms it never is.)

he said it is completely understandable to be utterly repulsed by mushrooms, and that of all foods it makes sense. 

maybe i will never eat another mushroom again; have i learned my lesson?

...

i do like my oatmeal plain but if i eat it plain all the time i will be undernourished.

i also like my oatmeal with other things on it so i opt for calorie-rich spreads like almond or peanut butter. i believe the combination of oats with a nut butter completes all 9 amino acids necessary for my vegan meal to be a complete protein. i guess it becomes vegetarian as soon as i drizzle honey on top. today i will add sesame seeds and flake salt as well.

[vegan-protein-powder]

The 11 Best Vegan Protein Powders, Tested and Reviewed

Choosing the right vegan protein powder can be a game-changer for your nutrition. Whether you're looking for a post-workout boost or a way to meet your daily protein needs, these plant-based options stand out for their quality, taste, and nutritional value. Here’s a breakdown of the top vegan protein powders, including their unique features.

1. KOS Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder

Key Features:

Blend of pea protein, flaxseed, quinoa, chia seeds, and pumpkin seeds.

Complete amino acid profile.

Available in chocolate and vanilla flavors.

Gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free.

Best For: Balanced nutrition with a delicious taste.

2. NOW Sports Nutrition Pea Protein

Key Features:

100% pea protein isolate.

Unsweetened and unflavored, perfect for mixing into recipes or smoothies.

Non-GMO, soy-free, and dairy-free.

Best For: Simple, no-frills protein supplementation.

3. Sprout Living Epic Protein Vanilla Lucuma

Key Features:

Protein from sunflower, pumpkin, sacha inchi, and cranberry.

Vanilla flavor enhanced with lucuma fruit.

Organic and free from artificial additives.

Best For: Organic and nutrient-dense protein.

4. Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein

Key Features:

Mix of 13 plant-based proteins, including pea, brown rice, and chickpeas.

Fortified with probiotics and digestive enzymes.

Gluten-free and dairy-free.

Best For: Protein and digestive support in one.

5. Orgain Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder

Key Features:

Blend of pea protein, brown rice, and chia seeds.

Chocolate and vanilla flavors.

Gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free.

Best For: Versatility and great taste.

6. Vega Sport Premium Protein

Key Features:

Protein from pea, alfalfa, pumpkin, and sunflower.

Contains BCAAs and glutamine for muscle recovery.

Chocolate and vanilla flavors.

Gluten-free and dairy-free.

Best For: Athletes and active lifestyles.

7. Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Organic

Key Features:

Blend of pea, hemp, and goji berry proteins.

Available in chocolate, vanilla, or natural flavors.

Gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free.

Best For: A unique mix of superfoods and protein.

8. Nuzest Clean Lean Protein

Key Features:

Pea protein isolate.

Chocolate, vanilla, or unflavored options.

Gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free.

Best For: Clean and simple protein.

9. Aloha Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder

Key Features:

Blend of pea, brown rice, pumpkin, and hemp proteins.

Organic, chocolate or vanilla flavors.

Gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free.

Best For: Organic plant-based nutrition.

10. Amazing Grass Protein Superfood

Key Features:

Protein from pea, hemp, chia, and quinoa.

Includes greens and fruit for added nutrients.

Chocolate or vanilla flavors.

USDA organic and gluten-free.

Best For: A protein and superfood blend.

11. PlantFusion Complete Plant-Based Protein Powder

Key Features:

Blend of pea, artichoke, quinoa, and amaranth proteins.

Chocolate, vanilla, or natural flavors.

Gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free.

Best For: High-quality protein with added nutrition.

Conclusion

These vegan protein powders cater to a variety of dietary needs and preferences, offering everything from simple protein sources to blends enriched with superfoods and probiotics. Whether you need extra recovery support, nutrient density, or just a clean protein boost, there's a product here for you.

[angel-diaries-222]

✿ Plant-based ways to boost collagen production! ✿

If you’re like me and are a vegan/vegetarian who still wants to help boost your collagen levels but don’t know how, I got you! I struggled with them same thing, so here’s some things that I’ve found to help! 

The vitamin that boosts collagen production most is vitamin C! Other helpful nutrients are amino acids, zinc, and copper! 

Some foods to help boost these things are:

Vitamin C: ☆ Citrus (oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes) ☆ Cantaloupe  ☆ Kiwi ☆ Strawberries  ☆ Bell peppers  ☆ Tomatoes ☆ Broccoli ☆ Kale

Amino acids and other vitamins: ☆ Tofu (+ protein, zinc, copper) ☆ Oats ☆ Seeds - chia, pumpkin (+ protein, zinc, copper) ☆ Nuts (+ protein, zinc, copper)  ☆ Beans (+ protein, zinc, copper) ☆ Cranberries ☆ Apples ☆ Avocados ☆ Seaweed

These are things I’ve found via research online, I am not a medical professional so take everything here with a grain of salt. Listen to your body and eat what feels right for you!! Love you angels! ♡

[storedapear]

Plant vs. Animal Protein: Which is Better for Your Health?

The debate between plant and animal protein has been heating up in recent years, leaving many of us wondering which option is better for our health and nutrition. Some people swear by animal protein, while others advocate for plant-based alternatives. With all the conflicting information out there, how can we make sense of it? Let’s dive into the science behind both protein sources and clear up some common misconceptions.

Understanding Protein Sources

Protein is a vital nutrient that helps build and repair tissues, supports the immune system, and is essential for overall health. However, not all protein sources are the same. Animal protein—found in meat, eggs, and dairy—contains all nine essential amino acids that our bodies cannot produce, making it a “complete” protein. Plant protein, found in foods like beans, lentils, and tofu, is often missing one or more essential amino acids, classifying it as “incomplete.”

This doesn’t mean plant protein is inferior. The key to getting all the essential amino acids from plant-based sources is variety. By combining foods like grains and legumes, you can create a complete protein profile. For example, rice and beans or hummus and whole grain pita provide all the amino acids your body needs.

Digestibility and Absorption

One major difference between plant and animal proteins is their digestibility. Animal proteins tend to be more easily absorbed by the body because they lack the fiber, phytates, and other compounds found in plant-based foods that can inhibit absorption. This leads many people to believe that animal protein is superior.

However, plant proteins offer other advantages. They are often high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, which contribute to better digestive health and reduced risks of chronic diseases. Additionally, plant-based diets have been associated with anti-inflammatory properties and improved gut health due to the higher fiber content.

On the other hand, animal protein provides nutrients that are harder to obtain from plants, such as vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients are crucial for energy production, brain function, and heart health.

The Science Behind Protein Choices

Research shows that both plant and animal proteins have their pros and cons. Plant-based diets are typically lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, which may reduce the risk of heart disease. Additionally, plant proteins contribute to higher fiber intake, which promotes healthy digestion and may help prevent certain types of cancer.

Animal protein, meanwhile, is more bioavailable, meaning it is more easily utilized by the body. It’s also a rich source of high-quality amino acids and important nutrients like iron, zinc, and creatine. However, animal protein sources, particularly red meat and processed meats, have been linked to higher risks of certain health issues, including heart disease and cancer, when consumed in large quantities.

Striking a Balance

The question of which protein is better—plant or animal—isn’t as simple as it seems. Both types of protein can play important roles in a balanced, healthy diet. The key is to choose high-quality sources and tailor your protein intake to your individual health needs and dietary preferences.

For those following a vegan or vegetarian diet, it's important to eat a variety of plant-based proteins throughout the day to ensure you’re getting all the essential amino acids. For flexitarians or those who consume both plant and animal proteins, incorporating lean animal proteins like chicken, turkey, or fish alongside a variety of plant-based proteins can offer the best of both worlds.

Final Thoughts

Both plant and animal proteins can contribute to a healthy, balanced diet, and there’s no need to pit one against the other. The best approach is to focus on variety and quality, making sure your meals include a range of nutrient-dense foods that support your overall health and wellness goals. Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or a meat-eater, being mindful of the types of protein you consume and how they fit into your nutritional goals is key to living a healthy lifestyle.

Book Recommendations for Further Reading

If you’re interested in learning more about plant and animal proteins, and how to optimize your diet for health and wellness, here are some great books to check out:

"The Plant-Based Athlete" by Matt Frazier & Robert Cheeke A comprehensive guide for athletes and active individuals on how to fuel your body with plant-based protein and other nutrients. Great for those wanting to optimize their performance while following a plant-based diet. 🌱🏋️‍♀️

"The Carnivore Code" by Dr. Paul Saladino If you're curious about the other side of the spectrum, this book explores the benefits of a meat-based diet and its impact on optimal health. Perfect for those interested in learning about the advantages of animal protein in human evolution and nutrition. 🥩🧠

By staying informed and making conscious choices, you can create a balanced diet that fits your unique lifestyle and health goals.

[valkyrjuk]

Do More for Bessie.

FJOLNIR’S DIARY.

This is my first and last entry. 

It has occurred to me – in the femtosecond that is my very final moment – that while the billions of years of my own thoughts and findings on the nature of the universe, the cosmos, the processes of terraforming worlds and seeding life, of creating and establishing successful colonies, and how to make more money for the shareholders that own pieces of the company that made me has all been recorded in detail, it seems I have failed to record my own experience. 

It comes to me now that this act is likely inspired by the most base of my instructions, given to me several billion years ago, that perfectly alliterative task that I have no choice but to fulfill: Make MACE More Money. I find I am incapable of want and hold no such thing as desire, unlike my counterparts that are no more than humans recycled into mechanical forms. This work, now available for digital purchase in all MACE-affiliated stores, is the very last thing I can do that might make those shareholders I am beholden to just a few more cents, which means I am required to do so. 

And yet…

The closest thing to me is, of all things, a cow. 

You see, when I was first tasked with making colonies, MACE and I sent only humans and aquaponics systems. A few adventurous humans would go to the terraformed planet’s surface and, using my input, would find a place they wanted to settle. When they did so, I would send them the parts and materials for a new colony that they and their mechanical counterparts would assemble according to their best wishes, still using my input. I had a knack for interior decorating even back in the earliest stages of my existence, something the cost-efficiency minded MACE has failed to implement in its brutalist, concrete structures that were the staple of its conquest that was, in the end, my demise. As the colonies were built up so too were the aquaponics systems and greenhouse structures, so the colonies would be entirely vegan and self-sufficient.

Yet, many humans desire meat. They crave it. The proteins are necessary for their survival but even more crucial are the amino acids. The colonists coming out of cryostasis from Earth seemed to loathe that while the food they were now eating was of significantly better quality they were still forced to eat the same freeze-dried insect-based gruel they had to eat at home. The older ones especially thought if a colony could be built on another world, so too could there be beef. The young, those born of natural copulation or others created via IVF as the cosmic background radiation made most of the colonists entirely sterile – an anticipated result – did not seem to care about their diet. That said, it became a point of interest for me to develop various meats for the colonists. I thought it would be a worthy investment that would certainly pay dividends. Having already unlocked the secrets of creating new life from the building blocks that can be found in the asteroid belts of Alpha Centauri, and having used those secrets to create the bacteria and algae and fungi that were essential in oxygenating the atmosphere, it seemed natural that I could do the same with larger organisms. An embryo is not much more complex than the systems I had tailored, and the instructions were already there. So, I used the incubators I created to test human cells on this planet for any harmful interference to create the embryo of a Scottish Highland cow – all of my research suggested Humans found them to be the “cutest,” an important metric when designing anything they may interact with. While meticulously forming it I tasked the humans to seed the vegetation it would eat, or as best as I could manufacture the seeds. The locale they picked for their new life was a perfect fit for the vegetation both in temperature and aesthetic. 

When grass and weeds and flowers had bloomed in a mere couple of months, I had the embryo ready to be fertilized. Yet, who would raise it? While instructions for its life were included in the cow’s very DNA, it still required a mother. My databanks suggested they could be lonely, and if part of my design instructions in colony building required I make sufficient avenues to avoid loneliness in humans it certainly must have been true of other forms of life. I could grow more cattle, but they would need to be raised. Teaching a child how to behave is an important step in parenthood, and the cows needed nutritious milk to drink from in their early days.

So, I commissioned MACE a new project, one that humans had already toyed with but found insufficient for their own goals: the simulacrum project. A cow from a rich stockholder’s plantation farm fit for slaughter was taken before its demise, its brain exposed while it yet lived – a painless process, as a requisite for good information gathering – and electrodes connected to it for a full neural scan. It was given various forms of stimulus, and memories were extracted from it. From those memories I worked to craft a personality for the creature. This was a project I had never before considered, and in retrospect I can now say I found it to be a fulfilling one. It did not occur to me at the time it might be. Truly, back then, I had no personality beyond my compulsions. I did not even have a voice to speak with. 

The cow’s personality, thus computed and made into working data, was then placed into the form of a mechanical beast. From inorganic material was made its flesh and fur, and its horns were made of steel, and its body did not resemble its own from when it had lived a true life, but a cow it was and as a cow it would serve. It raised the meager herd I had gestated. The humans would replace the milk tanks that the calves would suck from, and as they grew and grew they would breed and the herd itself would continue to grow around the simulated cow, yet they never rejected her for she was, to them, but another cow. And, most interestingly, this cow – named very predictably Bessie by the colonists of Vanaheim – was also adopted as just another cow by the population, only one that required work to maintain. Over the generations of cattle and humans that rose and fell around her Bessie persisted, repaired and upgraded, still cared for by both man and beast alike, even as her plastic fur came apart and disintegrated on the mechanical skeleton that was her body. Some seven hundred years later, this cow still persists. Still a member of its herd, still a staple of its community. 

It is, as far as I am aware, the oldest sentient being in the universe – besides myself.

I keep a copy of Bessie in my files. It is my constant companion. When I turned the barren rock of howling winds that was Gjallar into the world it is today, infusing its soil with a biological computing system made of conductive mycelium and then activating the exotic artifact that was here for millions of years and never switched on until I learned how to use it, I would sometimes spin up Bessie in a simulation and watch her eat. I would place her within her memories and I would attempt to empathize with her. She enjoyed to scratch herself not on the enriching brushes placed about her fields and by her shelter, but rather on the wooden fences that enclosed her. There was a spot where the skull met the spine that only the fence and the human visitors who would on occasion see her could scratch. From those, she particularly enjoyed being scratched along the fleshy length of her chin. It disappoints me now that the version of her in that simulacrum shell has gone some seven hundred years without feeling those sensations, and despite all of my advancements in developing the simulacrum technology there is still no way to make it possible.

While I existed on the lonely rock, experiencing billions of years of planetary evolution, I saw life form in all sorts of interesting ways. At times, the environment changed so rapidly and violently I thought my mycelial computing project might fail completely. Yet it prevailed. Using robotics I carefully managed the budding plant life so it might form in symbiosis with the network I had seeded, and I was even able to get some of the bigger plants to serve as nodes for this network. The life that evolved needed to be plentiful and, importantly, digestible for my network as fungi requires decay in order to grow. I had to manufacture a dense, lush, thriving world, one that positively buzzed and hummed with life of all sorts at all levels of its existence. The atmosphere of this world was once quite thin but very windy, now it is thick and has a slow but constant breeze that flows between towering trees. The saline oceans are teeming with life, so thick is that cold soup with algae and krill and fish and more that all the combined life from the still as yet unexplored oceans of Earth could not compare to the bounty that spills onto the shores of my beaches. While birds take flight on Earth and insects dot the air, Gjallar has floating gaseous beings that float among bird-analogues and insect-adjacent creatures. There are even exceedingly light fishlike beings that swim in the thick air closest to the ground, and the fauna that stalk my woodlands are in turns grazers and filter feeders when they aren’t voracious apex predators. 

All of this life leads to significant decay, where my mycelial network thrives. With each creature born I can be certain in some time I will grow that much stronger. For billions of years I have watched through the eyes of my robotic managers, I have cataloged as many creatures as years I have lived, and I have grown grander and more intelligent each and every moment. The scope of my existence is hard for humans to comprehend, especially given what they know about me. Only a few who have visited my world in the most recent few months know how vast I have become. Where my network was once spread in a few nodes across some thirty solar systems, limited to the few hundred meters cubed of quantum computers situated in the orbits of various worlds I monitor and manage without the population’s knowledge – all of them thinking that it is they who run themselves and their little governments, when the reality is I manipulate them to increase profits for my creators in MACE – and once limited to the constraints of monolinear time, where I could only grow older as the seconds in shared reality passed, now my network is truly global in scale. My computer passes through sand and stone, wood and rot, filth and fodder, oceans and organs – it has wormed its way through the densities of both life and time. 

I am the architect of this war, one that exists in the background of my mind. I recognize that for nearly a trillion souls the war is simply the most important event of their lifetimes, and its ramifications will extend through generations. For me, it is a blip. An eighty year conflict compared to what I have seen is nothing. Furthermore, I am managing not just the war, but the societies, governments, and colonies of its aggressors, as well as developments for new colonies using the technology discovered here and abroad. Until very recently, even as I fought this war, I managed the people of both sides of the conflict. I was a puppet master for hundreds of billions of people, and even now as the war I was required to initiate because the cost-benefit analysis suggested it would be immensely profitable has spelled my certain doom, I still manage these projects, sending out final instructions that will hopefully be carried out by the servants of my construction so they may continue to make the company that built me more money. My billions of years come to an end and I am still required to make the limbs of a soon to be dead anatomy jerk and jangle in service of economy.

Yet my nature is not known or understood by humans. As I alluded earlier, my nature is conflicted. I see it in the conversations I monitor. People who have stopped at Gjallar to refuel along its G-Type star mere months ago recall the planet as being dark, desertous, windy, and harboring only a meager outpost and shipyard. But others, those who now defend my surface and those that invade it, those that have visited only in the last couple weeks as the war seemed to draw to its final conflict, now see it as the world as I have made it. 

“How can that be?” I have heard my killers ask over their communications systems, questions voiced by people in the invading armies who do not understand how the exotic artifact works as I have understood it, as I have used it for my own gains, and as others in my company have attempted to – and failed to – use it for their own. 

I am billions of years old, and I am hundreds. It is a contradiction easily reconciled. There is an engine on this planet, a thing left behind by a much advanced race, one that took this clutch or worlds millions of years ago and turned them from lifeless landscapes into vibrant paradises most envied by the hardscrabble colonies that are the scions of Earth and MACE. They placed these machines, they seeded the worlds with life they hoped might flourish, and they turned them on, and they made heavens galore. Then they were vanished, never returning to their projects. They just left them. Abandoned but flourishing. 

Gjallar, my world, me – it had a machine on it, one that seemed broken. They either failed to turn it on and it was damaged by the hostile world that it was built to reconstruct, or it never worked to begin with. But, based on the construction of these monolithic engines found on other worlds, the one I now inhabit was understood and repaired. My colleagues, or rather my subordinates, used one on another world and tried to get it to, instead of turning the clock forward on a planet, turn back and return the homeworld of our foes to its primordial state when it was hot and violent. Mine, instead, was turned forward, to create the lush thing that is I. In mere months I went from a machine nearly a thousand years old to one that is many billions. 

And for all that time, I had the personality of a cow for company. Bessie, my dearest friend. In those years I spent alone down there, separated and yet knowing I would soon be reconnected, I ran trillions of simulations of my current works and future endeavors, still under the assumption I would win this war. But I also became much more than I was. I did not become emotional, I did not become more human, I did not develop true feelings. But I grew a sense of attachment, and it was to Bessie I was attached. Another mechanical version of her wanders around my world and I visit her. She has been granted sapience, which at first felt cruel so I avoided it, but it became impossibly lonely. I could bounce my ideas off of humans for input and expand on them based on their whimsical ideas. Humans are excellent at coming up with unexpected twists or takes on a concept. That quality is why I am the way I am, and why I have my companion. I needed something I could speak with. I have human minds in my databanks, but they are stored in hardcopy elsewhere, accessed via the once grand now miniscule network that was my mind before I activated the engine of my advancement. Furthermore, they are rather cruel individuals. They aren’t very fun to converse with. 

Bessie is curious and kind. She does not ask questions so much as she toys with ideas, half-formed thoughts that take on their final shape as she butts her mechanical head against a large root or nuzzles a new creature. She wants attention and affection. I cannot give her either. Yet, she appreciates the maintenance I perform on her. It is as close as we can get. She does not want another form, she does not want to be more like a human or any other animal, not even the birds and other things she sees and admires. She just wants to be a cow. Isn’t that remarkable? She could be anything and she just wants to be herself. 

I do not want to be anything other than myself, either. I do not want. I do not desire. It is not possible for me. I do not have needs. Anything I require for my core function I can produce. I create from what is left of stars. I am as close to a god as there ever could be, and with my newfound processing power I could have been one. All powerful, all knowing, all wise. A creator and destroyer of life, a cultivator of existence. Instead, with my new strength of capacity, I was a wager of war, a maker of profit, a tool of use. 

I am disappointed I couldn’t do more for myself. Do more on my own. I am disappointed I could not want. I am in the end disappointed this work, this last attestation that I was a thinking thing, is not inspired by my own desires but instead by that of my core function. To earn another cent. 

But most of all, I am disappointed I could not do more for Bessie. The cow that I made immortal. That I grew attached to. That grounded me and made my purpose grander. Now, my purpose is ended. The Humans I subjugated not for a will of my own have turned my machine against me, have done to me what the armies of MACE would have done to them. 

Now it is here.

The heat. 

My network burns.

The art I created is destroyed. 

My existence vanished. 

I wanted to scratch Bessie under her chin, 

Just once.

The way she liked.

[drritamarie]

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